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Do you think the flu is a greater danger than the coronavirus for people living in Japan?

15 Comments

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I lived in Japan near Tokyo for nearly twenty years. I worked in over twenty-five different high schools, colleges and universities. During that time I never once had influenza despite being in contact with a few thousand people every day. I never wore a mask either. I had a few colds over the years, of course. The only effective way to avoid influenza is with good personal hygiene (wash your hands with soap regularly and keep your fingers out of your nose, mouth and eyes) and eat a diet high in vitamins with lots of fruits and vegetables. Some of the schools I worked in had up to half of the student body and faculty off with the flu. Some schools were closed on occasion. All the schools made students wear dust masks during flu season, which just proves they do nothing to stop the spread of the flu or any other virus.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It shouldn't even be compared. The flu is an existing illness with an existing treatment and vaccine. The coronavirus is new, with too many unknowns and no vaccine. It's not a case of 'don't worry about it' when there is too much we don't know about it yet.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

A deadly virus vs a common cold. That's what comparing the coronavirus vs there flu is.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

New virus, it pays to be extra careful, keep up the resilience for when the really bad one comes.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I had never seen such hysteria around the flu until I loved to Japan. Back home, it's just a part of winter, along with colds, snow, frozen pipes etc. I have no idea why there is so much hysteria around it in Japan. Because of all the old people?

Because in the city where it has taken hold most significantly, it has a mortality rate over 2%, ten times that of influenza, and it spreads much more rapidly. In Wuhan they are building new emergency hospitals and the city is on lockdown, yet still the numbers rise.

It has a relatively long incubation period and can be transmitted easily before symptoms develop.

The "hysteria" now is probably well deserved, unlike swine flu, which genuinely was hysteria.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I have yet to experience an illness which literally ends life whilst walking in the streets.....

What does this have to do with anything?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

By the numbers, yes.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

I have yet to experience an illness which literally ends life whilst walking in the streets.....

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Yes, of course it is.

I'll take the experts over the hysterical fearmongering of the mob any day of the week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GSMQmbTGOg

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

theResident, yep, you stated precisely what I was going to say.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Aly is correct. We actual have no idea what the mortality rate is. 25,541 confirmed infections vs 493 confirmed deaths (as of late last night) Those infected could be closer to 5 times that. This Coronavirus doesn't GIVE you fatal pneumonia, it CAN lead to Pneumonia, The same as the flu can, a common cold and bronchitis if left untreated and/or you are young, old or immune compromised. On a side note, in the dark days of HIV/AIDS being prevalent them most deaths occured....from Pneumonia

No doubt this is a serious situation and different countries are treating it in different ways.

So - the question asked cannot be answered for at least another 7-10 days when more reliable infection data is available and also we will see if travel restrictions have strarted to work as intended.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Aside from mortality rates, etc... I can get a flu vaccine, I've had the flu several times in my life, I have some degree of resistance. None of that exists for this strain of Coronavirus. We are all at risk if it takes hold in your area. You can't say the same for your average flu.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

What a question. The coronavirus is a much bigger danger, since it gives you fatal pneumonia and there’s no specific treatment for it, not to mention all the unknowns, like to what extent it will spread, whether it can be contained and its fatality rate.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

I had never seen such hysteria around the flu until I loved to Japan. Back home, it's just a part of winter, along with colds, snow, frozen pipes etc. I have no idea why there is so much hysteria around it in Japan. Because of all the old people?

4 ( +8 / -4 )

We don't know anything about the mortality rate of this virus so no one can honestly answer that question until we know that. We know that this corona virus has a very high contagion rate, people can be contagious without showing symptoms, AND that this corona has an incubation period of up to 2 weeks (which according to the doctors I've been listening to is unprecedented). IF this virus has a mortality rate similar or worse than the common flu, we could actually have a VERY serious problem

10 ( +10 / -0 )

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